Beck Dental Care of Columbia Blog

Fall has arrived, bringing annual celebrations around popular holidays like Thanksgiving. If you’re like nearly 91% of Americans this time of year, you’re eagerly making plans to visit family or cook the perfect dish to share.

Although this is a great time to share memorable meals with family and friends, don’t forget that your dinner habits impact your oral health. Indulging in too many sweet treats can result in cavities, gum disease, injuries, or other issues if you don’t take the proper preventative measures. With that in mind, keep reading to learn about three desserts to enjoy that can support your smile rather than harm it!

Everyone loves a good night’s sleep, but many people don’t have an accurate idea of how sleep works. After you close your eyes for the evening, your brain cycles through four distinct phases, and each one plays a different role in how the body heals and recovers after a day’s activities. Three of these stages are categorized as non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, or quiet sleep, and the last one is called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, or active sleep. Here’s a brief guide to each of these stages and why they are so important for your health.

Your gums are easy to take for granted. They may seem to play a supporting role next to teeth in your smile, but in reality, they are just as essential! In fact, your gums serve an incredibly important purpose and can have a substantial impact on your health and quality of life. Here are just three reasons you should pay attention to and take good care of your gums every day.  

A fixed dental bridge is the most traditional method of replacing one or more lost teeth in a row. They are designed to provide long-lasting results. Traditional bridges have an average life expectancy of 5 to 15 years, but many things can influence the duration of your results. Here’s what you need to know to ensure your dental bridge serves you for many years.

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Most people with good oral and overall health are candidates for dental implants. However, it’s not unusual to require a little prep work before your placement surgery. Your dentist will review a CT scan of your oral structures and perform a visual examination of your mouth to ensure they are right for you. Based on the results of their findings, they may determine you need preliminary procedures. Don’t worry! Here are the most common procedures that may be needed before getting dental implants.

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Dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth because they can last for a lifetime while they look, work, and feel just like the real thing. However, finding the right implant dentist to place your new teeth can help you achieve better results. Here’s a guide to some of the qualities you should look for in an implant dentist so you can a strong and healthy smile that you can be confident about showing off.

You were taught the importance of brushing and flossing from a young age, but let’s face it, they can feel like a chore. You have a lot going on in your life, and flossing your teeth might be the last thing on your mind. Although you may not see the consequences of poor oral hygiene right away, they can cost you your beautiful smile. Poor dental health can also negatively influence your overall wellness. You can protect your smile from tooth loss and support your general health by following the best oral hygiene practices.

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If you’ve been relying on dentures to treat your missing teeth, dental implants can give you the next best thing to your natural smile. If you’re ready to make the swap from dentures to dental implants, the process will take time. Here’s what you can expect when transitioning to implant dentures.

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If your dentist has recently recommended getting a dental crown to protect a weakened tooth, it’s normal to have several questions about what you can expect during and after the procedure. There’s no need to worry. A dental crown is the most commonly performed restorative procedure. You don’t have to dread a painful day in the dentist’s chair or a long recovery. Here’s what you can expect when getting a dental crown.

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It might sound nerdy to say it, but dental implants are pretty cool. They replace missing teeth by mimicking them almost perfectly and make use of smart design to provide patients with more bite power and stability. It’s completely understandable to be interested in this breakthrough treatment.

That said, there are certain oral conditions that could restrict your ability to receive them. If this is your concern, don’t worry. In most cases, your dentist can provide solutions that will put you in a better position for sustaining successful implants. Keep reading to get the details!